Absolute Taste, is a British catering company based in London, it is part of the McLaren Group. Lyndy Redding is its managing director.[1] It's a business with a £10m annual turnover and projects with Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH), McLaren Group and fleets of private jets. It also runs three cafés and caters for countless private parties.[2]
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Absolute Taste was formed in 1997 by Ron Dennis and Lyndy Redding. Lyndy just graduated from Tante Marie with a diploma and hired a computer to produce a 3 page business proposal to Ron Dennis to start a catering company. Ron Dennis owns a 55% interest.[2] Initially centred around providing the finest hospitality for the VIP guests of the Team McLaren around the world, and for the employees at the McLaren headquarters, the company has quickly become leaders in their field with a world-wide reputation for excellent food, chic styling, exciting party design and professional staff.
Absolute Taste provided the catering for David Beckham and Victoria Beckham's 2006 FIFA World Cup send-off party, based on Gordon Ramsay's menu.[3]
Absolute Taste also catered for Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday party[1] and Chelsea FC footballer John Terry's wedding.[4]
In 2003, Absolute Taste Inflight was formed. It is a 24-hour, 365-day operation catering for private jets. It began at the suggestion of some McLaren employees and was vetted for a year on a shareholder's own plane. Six vans now deliver pre-prepared gourmet meals to airports all over the South of England.[2]
2008 marks the beginning of the second decade of Absolute Taste, when it announced a partnership with Gordon Ramsay Holdings. Gordon Ramsay by Absolute Taste, an entirely bespoke service which sees Absolute Taste working with Gordon and his team to produce the food of his restaurants for outside events. Gordon and Lyndy had met previously at Aubergine, Ramsay's restaurant, when a pastry chef had left the clear paper on Lyndy's chocolate fondant and Ramsay apologized to Lyndy. They met again at a F1 event when Gordon Ramsay was McLaren's guest.[5]
Absolute Taste operates 3 cafés. The Design Café and Dome Café are situated in Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. DetoxRetox at Harvey Nichols. There is also the Apron Café at TAG Farnborough Airport.